Keeping the parkway natural
Re "Foes rip plan to build on bluff," June 7: We agree with the effort to restrict building on the bluff overlooking the parkway as it is a visual intrusion to the natural sanctuary.
The deeper problem is that it is private property. The solution, for this parcel and others that will continue to change hands and have owners want to build on them, is to have funds available to purchase them for inclusion in the parkway.
The original purpose of the American River Parkway Foundation was exactly that, but as the county continually ran short of money for basic maintenance, it converted to a river clean-up organization.
A major aspect of our plan to have a nonprofit organization manage the parkway is the ability it would also have to build a financial endowment for land acquisition. As private land goes up for sale the nonprofit could purchase it and deed it to the parkway.
It is the only long-range solution that works to preserve the natural sanctuary of the parkway and keep it from becoming Malibuized.
- David H. Lukenbill, Sacramento
